Convertible Shoe Assembly

ABSTRACT

A convertible shoe assembly for converting a shoe between a high heel shoe and a flat shoe includes a sole that can be stood upon by a wearer. A strap is coupled to the sole to form a bridge to retain the sole on the wearer&#39;s foot. A heel panel is hingedly coupled to the sole. The heel panel is positionable in a first position has the heel panel lying on a plane is coplanar with the sole. Additionally, the heel panel is positionable in a second position having the heel panel forming an angle with the sole. A pair of heels is provided and each of the heels has a height is different from each other. A respective one of the heels is removably coupled to the heel panel for selecting a height of the heel panel. In this way the sole and the heels can form either a high heel shoe or a flat shoe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to shoe devices and more particularly pertains to a new shoe device for converting a shoe between a high heel shoe and a flat shoe.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a sole that can be stood upon by a wearer. A strap is coupled to the sole to form a bridge to retain the sole on the wearer's foot. A heel panel is hingedly coupled to the sole. The heel panel is positionable in a first position has the heel panel lying on a plane is coplanar with the sole. Additionally, the heel panel is positionable in a second position having the heel panel forming an angle with the sole. A pair of heels is provided and each of the heels has a height is different from each other. A respective one of the heels is removably coupled to the heel panel for selecting a height of the heel panel. In this way the sole and the heels can form either a high heel shoe or a flat shoe.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a convertible shoe assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure having a heel panel in a first position.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a heel panel in a second position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a second heel being removably coupled to a heel panel.

FIG. 4 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a first heel being removably coupled to a heel panel.

FIG. 5 is a phantom detail view taken from circle 5 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a first heel and a second heel of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of a heel panel of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new shoe device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the convertible shoe assembly 10 generally comprises a sole 12 that is comprised of a flexible material and the sole 12 is stood upon by a foot 14 of a person. The sole 12 has a front edge 16, a back edge 18 and a top surface 20, and the sole 12 may be structured in the convention of shoe soles with respect to shape and sizing. A strap 22 is coupled to the sole 12 to form a bridge which can extend over the foot 14 for retaining the sole 12 on the foot 14. The strap 22 has a first end 24 and a second end 26, and each of the first 24 and second 26 ends is coupled to the top surface 20 of the sole 12 such that the strap 22 forms an arc extending across a full width of the sole 12.

A heel panel 28 is hingedly coupled to the sole 12. The heel panel 28 is positionable in a first position having the heel panel 28 lying on a plane is coplanar with the sole 12. The heel panel 28 is positionable in a second position having the heel panel 28 forming an angle with the sole 12. The heel panel 28 has a forward edge 30, a rear edge 32, an upper surface 34 and a bottom surface 36, and the forward edge 30 is hingedly coupled to the back edge 18 of the sole 12. The bottom surface 36 has a channel 38 extending through the rear edge 32 toward the forward edge 30.

The channel 38 has a bounding surface 40 and the bounding surface 40 has a plurality of angled sides 42 each extending between a respective pair of a plurality of horizontal sides 44. The horizontal sides 44 include a pair of lower horizontal sides 46, a pair of middle horizontal sides 48 and a top horizontal side 50. Each of the lower horizontal sides 46 is spaced from the bottom surface 36 of the heel panel 28. Additionally, the plurality of angled sides 42 is distributed between the lower 46, middle 48 and top 50 horizontal sides.

A pair of heels 52 is included and each of the heels 52 has a height that is different from each other. A respective one of the heels 52 is removably coupled to the heel panel 28 for selecting a height of the heel panel 28. In this way the sole 12 and the heels 52 can form either a high heel shoe or a flat shoe. The pair of heels 52 includes a first heel 54 and a second heel 56.

The first heel 54 is slidably coupled to the heel panel 28 when the heel panel 28 is positioned in the first position. In this way the sole 12 and the first heel 54 define a flat shoe. The first heel 54 has a top surface 57 and a bottom surface 58 and a perimeter edge 60 extending therebetween, and the perimeter edge 60 has a front side 62 and a back side 64. The front side 62 is straight and the back side 64 is concavely arcuate with respect to the front side 62.

A second heel 56 is slidably coupled to the heel panel 28 when the heel panel 28 is positioned in the second position and the first heel 54 is not slidably coupled to the heel panel 28. Additionally, the second heel 56 is vertically elongated such that the sole 12 curves downwardly from the heel panel 28. In this way the sole 12 and the second heel 56 define a high heel shoe. The second heel 56 has a top end 66 and a bottom end 68, and the second heel 56 is elongated between the top 66 and bottom 68 ends. The second heel 56 may taper between the top 66 and bottom 68 ends in the convention of a stiletto heel or the like.

A pair of fasteners 70 is each coupled to a respective one of the heels 52. The fastener 70 on the respective heel 52 slidably engages the heel panel 28 when the respective heel 52 is removably coupled to the heel panel 28. Additionally, the channel 38 in the bottom surface 36 of the heel panel 28 insertably receives the fastener 70 on the respective heel 52. The fastener 70 has a profile that conforms to the bounding surface 40 of the heel thereby restricting deflection of the respective heel 52 on the heel panel 28.

Each of the fasteners 70 has a bottom end 72, a top end 74 and an outer surface 76 extending therebetween. The bottom end 72 of a respective one of the fasteners 70 is coupled to the top surface 57 of the first heel 54 and the bottom end 72 of a respective one of the fasteners 70 is coupled to the top end 66 of the second heel 56. The outer surface 76 of each of the fasteners 70 angles inwardly between the bottom 72 and top 74 ends of the fasteners 70. Moreover, the outer surface 76 of each of the fasteners 70 has a horizontal side 78 that is spaced from the top surface 57 of the first heel 54 or the top end 66 of the second heel 56. The top end 66 of each of the fasteners 70 has a prominence 80 thereon. The prominence 80 has an upper surface 82 and an outside surface 84 sloping inwardly between the top end 74 of a respective one of the fasteners 70 and the upper surface 34.

Each of the horizontal sides 78 of the outer surface 76 of the respective fastener 70 slidably engages a respective one of the lower horizontal sides 46 of the angled sides 42 of bounding surface 40 of the channel 38 when the channel 38 insertably receives the respective fastener 70. In this way the respective fastener 70 is inhibited from falling downwardly out of the channel 38. The outer surface 76 of the respective fastener 70, the upper surface 34 of the prominence 80 on the respective fastener 70 and the outside surface 84 of the prominence 80 on the respective fastener 70 each slidably engages a respective one of the angled sides 42 of the bounding surface 40 of the channel 38 when the channel 38 insertably receives the respective fastener 70.

A clasp 86 is provided and the clasp 86 is pivotally coupled to the heel panel 28. The clasp 86 is positionable in a closed position having the clasp 86 engaging the heel 52 that is removably coupled to the heel panel 28 for retaining the heel 52 on the heel panel 28. The clasp 86 is positionable in an open position for facilitating the heel 52 on the heel panel 28 to be removed from the heel panel 28. The clasp 86 comprises an arm 88 that that has first end 90 and a second end 92. The first end 90 of the arm 88 is pivotally coupled to the rear edge 32 of the heel panel 28 and the arm 88 is curved between the first 90 and second 92 ends of the arm 88. A bar 94 is coupled to the second end 26 and the bar 94 is oriented transverse with the arm 88 such that the bar 94 compresses against the fastener 70 on the heel 52 that is removably coupled to the heel panel 28.

A harness 96 may be coupled to the upper surface 34 of the heel panel 28. The harness 96 may be wrapped around the foot 14's ankle when either of the high heel shoe or the flat shoe is worn. The harness 96 may include strap 22 s and buckles that are conventional to women's shoes.

In use, the heel panel 28 is positioned in the first position and the fastener 70 on the first heel 54 is slid into the channel 38. Thus, the first heel 54 and the sole 12 form the flat shoe for wearing. The heel panel 28 is positioned in the second position and the fastener 70 on the second heel 56 is slid into the channel 38. In this way the second heel 56 and the sole 12 form the high heel shoe for wearing. The first 54 and second 56 heels are interchangeable at any time, thereby facilitating the wearer to switch between the flat shoe and the high heel shoe.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded.

A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A convertible shoe assembly being configured to be converted between a flat and a high heel shoe, said assembly comprising: a sole being comprised of a flexible material wherein said sole is configured to being stood upon by a wearer; a strap being coupled to said sole to form a bridge wherein strap is configured to extend over the wearer's foot for retaining said sole on the wearer's foot; a heel panel being hingedly coupled to said sole, said heel panel being positionable in a first position having said heel panel lying on a plane being coplanar with said sole, said heel panel being positionable in a second position having said heel panel forming an angle with said sole; a pair of heels, each of said heels having a height being different from each other, a respective one of said heels being removably coupled to said heel panel for selecting a height of said heel panel wherein said sole and said heels are configured for form either a high heel shoe or a flat shoe; and a pair of fasteners, each of said fasteners being coupled to a respective one of said heels, said fastener on said respective heel slidably engaging said heel panel when said respective heel is removably coupled to said heel panel.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said sole has a front edge, a back edge and a top surface; said strap has a first end and a second end, each of said first and second ends being coupled to said top surface of said sole such that said strap forms an arc extending across a full width of said sole; and said heel panel has a forward edge, a rear edge and a bottom surface, said forward edge being hingedly coupled to said back edge of said sole.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein: said bottom surface has a channel extending through said rear edge toward said forward edge, said channel having a bounding surface; said bounding surface having a plurality of angled sides each extending between a respective pair of a plurality of horizontal sides; and said horizontal sides including a pair of lower horizontal sides, a pair of middle horizontal sides and a top horizontal side, each of said lower horizontal sides being spaced from said bottom surface of said heel panel, said plurality of angled being distributed between said lower, middle and top horizontal sides.
 4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said pair of heels includes a first heel being slidably coupled to said heel panel when said heel panel is positioned in said first position wherein said sole and said first heel are configured to define a flat shoe, said first heel having a top surface and a bottom surface and a perimeter edge extending therebetween, said perimeter edge having a front side and a back side, said front side being straight, said back side being concavely arcuate with respect to said front side.
 5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said pair of heels includes a second heel being slidably coupled to said heel panel when said heel panel is positioned in said second position and said first heel is not slidably coupled to said heel panel, said second heel being vertically elongated such that said sole curves downwardly from said heel panel wherein said sole and said second heel are configured to define a high heel shoe, said second heel having a top end and a bottom end, said heel being elongated between said top and bottom ends.
 6. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said channel in said bottom surface of said heel panel insertably receives said fastener on said respective heel, said fastener having a profile conforming to said bounding surface of said heel thereby restricting deflection of said respective heel on said heel panel.
 7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein: said pair of heels includes a first heel and a second heel, said first heel having a top surface, said second heel having a top end; each of said fasteners has a bottom end, a top end and an outer surface extending therebetween, said bottom end of a respective one of said fasteners being coupled to said top surface of said first heel, said bottom end of a respective one of said fasteners being coupled to said top end of said second heel.
 8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein: said outer surface of each of said fasteners angles inwardly between said bottom and top ends of said fasteners, said outer surface of each of said fasteners having a horizontal side being spaced from said top surface of said first heel or said top end of said second heel; and said top end of each of said fasteners has a prominence thereon, said prominence having an upper surface and an outside surface sloping inwardly between said top end of a respective one of said fasteners and said upper surface.
 9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of said horizontal sides of said outer surface of said respective fastener slidably engages a respective one of said lower horizontal sides of said of said angled sides of bounding surface of said channel when said channel insertably receives said respective fastener thereby inhibiting said respective fastener from falling downwardly out of said channel.
 10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein said outer surface of said respective fastener, said upper surface of said prominence on said respective fastener and said outside surface of said prominence on said respective fastener each slidably engages a respective one of said angled sides of said bounding surface of said channel when said channel insertably receives said respective fastener.
 11. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a clasp being pivotally coupled to said heel panel, said clasp being positionable in a closed position having said clasp engaging said heel that is removably coupled to said heel panel for retaining said heel on said heel panel, said clasp being positionable in an open position for facilitating said heel on said heel panel to be removed from said heel panel.
 12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said clasp comprises: an arm having first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally coupled to said rear edge of said heel panel, said arm being curved between said first and second ends; and a bar being coupled to said second end, said bar being oriented transverse with said arm such that said bar compresses against said fastener on said heel that is removably coupled to said heel.
 13. A convertible shoe assembly being configured to be converted between a flat and a high heel shoe, said assembly comprising: a sole being comprised of a flexible material wherein said sole is configured to being stood upon by a wearer, said sole having a front edge, a back edge and a top surface; a strap being coupled to said sole to form a bridge wherein strap is configured to extend over the wearer's foot for retaining said sole on the wearer's foot, said strap having a first end and a second end, each of said first and second ends being coupled to said top surface of said sole such that said strap forms an arc extending across a full width of said sole; a heel panel being hingedly coupled to said sole, said heel panel being positionable in a first position having said heel panel lying on a plane being coplanar with said sole, said heel panel being positionable in a second position having said heel panel forming an angle with said sole, said heel panel having a forward edge, a rear edge and a bottom surface, said forward edge being hingedly coupled to said back edge of said sole, said bottom surface having a channel extending through said rear edge toward said forward edge, said channel having a bounding surface, said bounding surface having a plurality of angled sides each extending between a respective pair of a plurality of horizontal sides, said horizontal sides including a pair of lower horizontal sides, a pair of middle horizontal sides and a top horizontal side, each of said lower horizontal sides being spaced from said bottom surface of said heel panel, said plurality of angled being distributed between said lower, middle and top horizontal sides; a pair of heels, each of said heels having a height being different from each other, a respective one of said heels being removably coupled to said heel panel for selecting a height of said heel panel wherein said sole and said heels are configured for form either a high heel shoe or a flat shoe, said pair of heels including: a first heel being slidably coupled to said heel panel when said heel panel is positioned in said first position wherein said sole and said first heel are configured to define a flat shoe, said first heel having a top surface and a bottom surface and a perimeter edge extending therebetween, said perimeter edge having a front side and a back side, said front side being straight, said back side being concavely arcuate with respect to said front side; and a second heel being slidably coupled to said heel panel when said heel panel is positioned in said second position and said first heel is not slidably coupled to said heel panel, said second heel being vertically elongated such that said sole curves downwardly from said heel panel wherein said sole and said second heel are configured to define a high heel shoe, said second heel having a top end and a bottom end, said heel being elongated between said top and bottom ends; a pair of fasteners, each of said fasteners being coupled to a respective one of said heels, said fastener on said respective heel slidably engaging said heel panel when said respective heel is removably coupled to said heel panel, said channel in said bottom surface of said heel panel insertably receiving said fastener on said respective heel, said fastener having a profile conforming to said bounding surface of said heel thereby restricting deflection of said respective heel on said heel panel, each of said fasteners having a bottom end, a top end and an outer surface extending therebetween, said bottom end of a respective one of said fasteners being coupled to said top surface of said first heel, said bottom end of a respective one of said fasteners being coupled to said top end of said second heel, said outer surface of each of said fasteners angling inwardly between said bottom and top ends of said fasteners, said outer surface of each of said fasteners having a horizontal side being spaced from said top surface of said first heel or said top end of said second heel, said top end of each of said fasteners having a prominence thereon, said prominence having an upper surface and an outside surface sloping inwardly between said top end of a respective one of said fasteners and said upper surface, each of said horizontal sides of said outer surface of said respective fastener slidably engaging a respective one of said lower horizontal sides of said of said angled sides of bounding surface of said channel when said channel insertably receives said respective fastener thereby inhibiting said respective fastener from falling downwardly out of said channel, said outer surface of said respective fastener, said upper surface of said prominence on said respective fastener and said outside surface of said prominence on said respective fastener each slidably engaging a respective one of said angled sides of said bounding surface of said channel when said channel insertably receives said respective fastener; and a clasp being pivotally coupled to said heel panel, said clasp being positionable in a closed position having said clasp engaging said heel that is removably coupled to said heel panel for retaining said heel on said heel panel, said clasp being positionable in an open position for facilitating said heel on said heel panel to be removed from said heel panel, said clasp comprising: an arm having first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally coupled to said rear edge of said heel panel, said arm being curved between said first and second ends; and a bar being coupled to said second end, said bar being oriented transverse with said arm such that said bar compresses against said fastener on said heel that is removably coupled to said heel. 